Improvement in skates



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo WM. A. SUTTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SKATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 57,597, dated August 28, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it know that I, WILLIAM A. SUTTON, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan or top View ot' a skate constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

This invention consists in a novel construction of a skate, whereby it may be much more conveniently, quickly, and securely attached to the heel of the boot or shoe than by any of the means ordinarily employed for that purpose, and whereby the skate may be readily adjusted to fit heels of any size or shape without requiring any permanent iiXture upon the. same; and furthermore, whereby the skate may be manufactured at a very moderate cost.

To enable others to understand the construction and operation of my invention, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawings.

A is the runner of the skate, and B the sole which supports the forward portion of the foot, this sole being secured upon the upper side or edge of the runner by any ordinary or suitable means. G represents the plate which supports the heel of the skater', and which is attached to the upper edge or side of the runner, at the rearmost end thereof, in the same manner that the sole B is secured upon the forward part of the same. Formed in each side of this heel-plate C, at the central and forward portion thereof, is a longitudinal slot, a.

D represents two sliding bars, one to each slot a, and formed upon the rearinost end of each of these bars D is a downwardly-projecting stud, c, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, these studs fitting snugly into the slots a.. In front of each ot these studs c is a broad-headed screw, d, which passes up through the slot a, and is secured into the bar D in suoli manner that by loosening the said screw the bar D may be moved longitudinally over its slot a to any desired point, and retained in such position by tightening the said screw.

The forward end of each bar D is turned upward at right angles to its main length, and has formed upon its upper extremity a sharp rearwardly-projecting spur, e, these spurs c being designed to hold in ,the frontedge of 'the heel of the boot or shoe when the skate is applied thereto, as will be presently set forth.

E is a horizontally-swinging bar, which is placed upon the upper side of the heel-plate C, and which has its inner end pivoted near the center of the said heel-plate by mea-ns of a vertical pivot, The free or rearmost end of this pivoted bar E is bent upward, as shown at fin Fig. -2, and at the upper extremity of this upwardly-projecting portion f is a sharp forwardly-projecting spur, in, which is forced into the rearmost edge of the heel when the skate is applied to the boot or shoe.

Formed on the rearmost side of the portion f of the barEis a rearwardly-projeetin g thumbpiece or handle, n., by means of which the bar E is swung or turned around its pivot z' when desired.

o' is a strong lip formed on the underside of the free end of the bar E, and projecting forward underneath the rear edge of the heelplate (J, as shown in Fig. 2, in such manner as to prevent the bar E from being forced upward out of its place. sisa small screw situated longitudinally in the free end of the bar E in such a way that its inner end may be screwedv up tightly into small notches formed in the rear edge of the heel-plate C, so as to prevent the bar E from moving laterally out of its place when the skate is applied to the boot or shoe.

The spurs e being adjusted and secured at proper points upon the heel-plate C, reference being had tothe size of the heel of the boot or shoe, by means of the screws d, as hereinbefore fully set forth, the bar E is swung aside into a position nearly or quite at right angles to that shown in Fig. l, and the skate is then applied to the toot7 the front portion of the foot resting upon the sole B, while the heel is placed upon the heel-plate C. The spurs e are then placed into the front or forward edge of the heel ot' the boot or shoe, and the bar E is forced back to the position shown in Fig. 1,

a y l 57.597

whereupon the spur fm bites into the rearmostA side or edge of the heel, so that the said'heel is firmly and securely held between the spurs c in front and the spur m behind, any lateral movement of the bar E while the skate is thus applied to the front being prevented by screwing the inner end ot' the screw s tightly against the notched rear end or edge of the heel-plaie C, as hereinbefore explained. The forward part of the foot is secured to the sole B by means of a strap, or by any other usual or suitable means.

By this construction of the skate it may not only be manufactured at a comparatively small cost, and be readily adj usted tothe heels ot' different sizes of boots and shoes, and be secured thereto without danger of lateral or otherdisplacement, but-it may also be very easily attached thereto without involving the necessity ot sitting1 down.

' What II claim as new, and desire to secure WM A. SUTTON.

Witnesses:

A. LE CLERC, J W. Goor/nas. 

